Gareth's 1999 Sonic Shadow Revision 5

[SonicSW20]

We will find out (or not) over the next few years I guess!

[SonicSW20]

Ready for tomorrow:



Many beers in the fridge in preparation.

[markstevieandmads]

Let us know how you get on.....

After my wedding im hoping to be doing the exact same thing to mine.

[raptor95GTS]

i'm sure it will be all good, I'm just unlucky with garages that way (or just don't pay enough for a proper job!)

How did the suspension replacement go ?

[SonicSW20]

Stalled... Managed to cross thread a ball joint mounting hole on the hub

Don't have the right size tap to try to fix it or coil kit if a tap won't repair it, so until that's done there's not too much to do. Don't really want to load that ball joint with only one bolt in so haven't done the front yet, left it with the rear up in the air.

[rossonza]

Stalled... Managed to cross thread a ball joint mounting hole on the hub

Don't have the right size tap to try to fix it or coil kit if a tap won't repair it, so until that's done there's not too much to do. Don't really want to load that ball joint with only one bolt in so haven't done the front yet, left it with the rear up in the air.

not cool got a picture? where abouts are you in the country?

[SonicSW20]

I don't have a picture of the hole, no. I'm near Hornchurch.

Just need to get the bits ordered, annoying but not a huge deal!

[rossonza]

I don't have a picture of the hole, no. I'm near Hornchurch.

Just need to get the bits ordered, annoying but not a huge deal!

oohh er.... Bit too far for me to come and lend a hand. but sounds like you know what your doing.

good luck with getting it sorted

[SonicSW20]

It'll be fine, it's just a PITA because I'll have to remove the hub as there's not enough clearance on stands for a drill. Unless a tap fixes it and it holds torque...

[JD]

What thread is it? Is it UNF or metrique? There's a small chance I might have the correct size taps as I've got lots of odd ones. Re-tapped I'm sure it would be fine with a bit of threadlock on for belt and braces. I can pop one in the post to you if I have it.

[SonicSW20]

M12 * 1.25 according to the internet, I'll measure a bolt later this evening.

Thanks for the offer - I'll order a tap as it's useful to have one on hand for future fuckups

[SonicSW20]

Looks a bit forlorn left like that!

[JD]

M12 * 1.25 according to the internet, I'll measure a bolt later this evening.

Thanks for the offer - I'll order a tap as it's useful to have one on hand for future fuckups

The exact tap I required yesterday after posting that and one I don't have. I actually stood there thinking "I hope Gazza doesn't need a 12 x 1.25". I was cleaning up the threads on some old nuts for a trolley I'm building.

[SonicSW20]

Always the way, I have coil kits for M8 and M10 as well... Useful to have these things on hand.

[JD]

Ouch!

[SonicSW20]

Wew! I ordered s single M12*1.25 tap for about £6-£7. Finest chinesium of course...

[JD]

Wew! I ordered s single M12*1.25 tap for about £6-£7. Finest chinesium of course...

Uh oh! My spidey sense was tingling and I just realised why! It's not 7/16 UNF is it? Like seatbelt anchors etc; the threadform that is the tested and approved industry standard for certain fasteners. Occasionally you see people inquiring about "11.5x1.25" taps/bolts etc when they really want the 7/16 UNF. Ball joint fittings might be governed by the same standard. I never knew until I had to replace some seat belt anchor bolts on my Roadster, and you'll still find plenty of people arguing along the lines of "IMPERIAL ON A JAP CAR? U WOT M8?" but it nearly caught me out once. Double check before thread wreckage!

[SonicSW20]

No, it's definitely M12*1.25 - the thread on the tap matches the bolt.

[JD]

Oh good. Sorry for the panic. To clarify, the UNF 7/16 pitch of 20 TPI works out as 1.27mm a la metrique, so can appear very similar without checking against a gauge.

[SonicSW20]

Tap saves the day.



Not torqued yet, but it felt OK. As long as it holds the torque then I'm happy.